Council: The Court of a Dying King
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Sorry guys, I had a pretty heavy week of work, and I didn't even visit the Escapist for fear of becoming distracted.
I'll catch up on reading and get a post up some time this evening.
I'll catch up on reading and get a post up some time this evening.
"We can run the Empire in the short term without a figurehead, provided we can pass off the Emperor's illness to the general public."
"No we cannot let anyone be aware of the Emperor's health, Lord Naven!." Czernovici quickly and firmly answered. "We are already playing a precarious game with the ambassadors by hiding His Majesty's health to the rest. To trust one party to play along with this charade is to invite trouble from the Sanshasi. They'll suspect us either ignorant or deliberately hiding something from the nobility. Worst thing that could happen is that the ambassador may inspire some of the nobility to lead a coalition against this Council." He sighed after speaking his peace.
"No we cannot let anyone be aware of the Emperor's health, Lord Naven!." Czernovici quickly and firmly answered. "We are already playing a precarious game with the ambassadors by hiding His Majesty's health to the rest. To trust one party to play along with this charade is to invite trouble from the Sanshasi. They'll suspect us either ignorant or deliberately hiding something from the nobility. Worst thing that could happen is that the ambassador may inspire some of the nobility to lead a coalition against this Council." He sighed after speaking his peace.
"I think this meeting is coming to an end. We all have much to do and much to think about. We also have a ball to plan and ambassadors to placate." Said Vayon, he could sense the awkward silence at the table and thought it was perhaps best for initial events to play out to force the Council into a decision. Otherwise, they could argue over details until day turned to night turned to day again and nobody noticed.
Time seemed to pass differently in the Council chamber. Vayon could remember long and protracted arguments and issues that had seemed to take an age to resolve but when they emerged from the chamber mere minutes had passed. He could also remember seemingly quick meetings where the orders of the day sped by, yet when they finished for the day it had gone dark.
Time was the greatest enemy of the Archeran Empire, it would soon claim the Emperor and it would hold Prince Ferdinand away from the throne for years. It rotted the ships of the navy and wore away at the buildings and roads that held the land together into one realm. It rusted the weapons and armour of the army and wore down the strong people the Empire was founded on. Yes indeed, the only way to defeat time was to create something that would last forever, great buildings, people and events lasted through history. Everything else that was made would rot and waste away given enough time.
But time had virtues too, time proved people right. Vayon only hoped it would prove him right too.
Time seemed to pass differently in the Council chamber. Vayon could remember long and protracted arguments and issues that had seemed to take an age to resolve but when they emerged from the chamber mere minutes had passed. He could also remember seemingly quick meetings where the orders of the day sped by, yet when they finished for the day it had gone dark.
Time was the greatest enemy of the Archeran Empire, it would soon claim the Emperor and it would hold Prince Ferdinand away from the throne for years. It rotted the ships of the navy and wore away at the buildings and roads that held the land together into one realm. It rusted the weapons and armour of the army and wore down the strong people the Empire was founded on. Yes indeed, the only way to defeat time was to create something that would last forever, great buildings, people and events lasted through history. Everything else that was made would rot and waste away given enough time.
But time had virtues too, time proved people right. Vayon only hoped it would prove him right too.
The silence was killing the Lord Chancellor. He said nothing but returned his gaze to the notes on his table. At some point he would need to speak to the couriers before sundown, but for now he had time to kill.
He wrote a note to the Spymistress and passed it over discretely: a request for a private conversation. He preferred other people in this conversation not to be involved and throw their opinions at this time.
He wrote a note to the Spymistress and passed it over discretely: a request for a private conversation. He preferred other people in this conversation not to be involved and throw their opinions at this time.
Katherine was silent as the Council discussed war: she knew how the country loved its military action, but she cared little for the manner of its execution. She'd have new lands to watch over and guard; she made a note to designate a trusty officer to run the operation in Magelan. Time passed, and the discussion moved to a choice of Regent. Again Katherine was neutral; a regent was necessary, but she would allow the others to pull back and forth over the candidate; when they had chosen, she would examine the would-be ruler, and discover what secrets he hid.
Agreements were made, or at least allowed, and the meeting ended. Reading the Chancellors note, Katherine met his eye and nodded. As the others began to leave, she remained silent and seated, running over potential Magelan officers while she listened for less official conversation among her fellow Councillors. When the others had gone she would converse with Czernovici.
Agreements were made, or at least allowed, and the meeting ended. Reading the Chancellors note, Katherine met his eye and nodded. As the others began to leave, she remained silent and seated, running over potential Magelan officers while she listened for less official conversation among her fellow Councillors. When the others had gone she would converse with Czernovici.
Sorry about that, guys. Illness and essays don't go well together, but thankfully I've managed to deal with both.
Also, how are we going to do out-of-Council parts of the games?
Also, how are we going to do out-of-Council parts of the games?
"Well, if that's all, then I suppose that it is time to break up this meeting." Darren said, looking around the table for confirmation. Everyone had gotten quiet. No doubt they were considering how to resolve whatever difficulty most weighed on the Empire. The Regency, no doubt He thought.
That would be the big battle in the coming days. It wasn't the issue of putting a puppet on the throne, the question was: whose puppet would it be? Nonetheless, the meeting had ended well enough for his own plans, Darren considered.
With Iskendar taking focus they would be able to restart economic activity at a lightning pace, spurred by speculative trade with Magelan...That reminded him. He'd need to meet with Vayon later. There were plans for Magelan, plans that he'd need the support of the admiralty to execute. Besides which, it'd do some good to get a steadfast ally on the Council, he considered.
That would be the big battle in the coming days. It wasn't the issue of putting a puppet on the throne, the question was: whose puppet would it be? Nonetheless, the meeting had ended well enough for his own plans, Darren considered.
With Iskendar taking focus they would be able to restart economic activity at a lightning pace, spurred by speculative trade with Magelan...That reminded him. He'd need to meet with Vayon later. There were plans for Magelan, plans that he'd need the support of the admiralty to execute. Besides which, it'd do some good to get a steadfast ally on the Council, he considered.
A smile came to his face as the Spymistress agreed to speak with him. He still saw people sitting and watching, and didn?t quite feel comfortable speaking just yet. Instead he continued to write on his paper. He passed the note over to Miss Singer.
Opinions on the other Council Members?
Katherine's eyebrows raised; this seemed more like gossip that subterfuge. However, she'd have to begin sounding out her fellow Councillors somewhere.
Her eyes flickered over the rest of the room. She wrote, carefully, Inefficient and divided. The Council is weakened by secondary loyalties. Solutions welcome.
'That seemed obvious.' Gennadiy thought, reading Singer?s answer. 'Better stop beating around the bush.'
His quill moved quickly, writing down what he can before sending it back to the Spymistress.
Katherine scans the plans, and finds them suitable. Raising her gaze to the Chancellor, she nods, then prepares to leave the council chamber.
That smile from earlier never left his face.
Opinions on the other Council Members?
Katherine's eyebrows raised; this seemed more like gossip that subterfuge. However, she'd have to begin sounding out her fellow Councillors somewhere.
Her eyes flickered over the rest of the room. She wrote, carefully, Inefficient and divided. The Council is weakened by secondary loyalties. Solutions welcome.
'That seemed obvious.' Gennadiy thought, reading Singer?s answer. 'Better stop beating around the bush.'
His quill moved quickly, writing down what he can before sending it back to the Spymistress.
Katherine scans the plans, and finds them suitable. Raising her gaze to the Chancellor, she nods, then prepares to leave the council chamber.
That smile from earlier never left his face.
Chairs scraped the floor as the Council members left for their own chambers and offices. Vayon had further meetings with the Admiralty and would have to draft up plans for the refit of the flagships. In addition, he'd need to decide how many ships would be needed for the Magelan task force and the quarantine of Iskendar.
"I look forward to a grand ball in the near future." Said Vayon as he left, wishing to return to his chambers for a rest before dealing with the Admiralty. No doubt they would bombard him with more ideas and requests that the Treasury would not approve.
Vayon strode down the halls and felt a great tiredness pass from him. The problems of Council business seemed smaller with every step he took from the chamber. The problems that sat waiting at his desk were much more manageable.
"I look forward to a grand ball in the near future." Said Vayon as he left, wishing to return to his chambers for a rest before dealing with the Admiralty. No doubt they would bombard him with more ideas and requests that the Treasury would not approve.
Vayon strode down the halls and felt a great tiredness pass from him. The problems of Council business seemed smaller with every step he took from the chamber. The problems that sat waiting at his desk were much more manageable.